The Magill Estate style has evolved over the years. While the early vintages were quite lean and tight, the recent releases have shown much greater fruit definition and palate vitality. The winemakers paid particular attention to flavour development and tannin ripeness for this Magill, and this release triumphs in a show of supple structures and more fruit richness. The aim of Penfolds Senior Winemaker Peter Gago in crafting Magill is to create a wine which expressess the character of the vineyard, and is more elegant in style than most Penfolds reds.

Koonunga Hill is very much a reflection of the Penfolds winemaking philosophy and style. Since the inaugural vintage of 1976, Koonunga Hill's reputation has been built upon widespread acclaim. The fundamentals endure, find the best fruit and spare no expense. Treat each parcel to the full course of Penfold efficacy and age the finished wine in a selection of the finest oak. Koonunga Hill continues the tradition, representing a profound experience of the enduring Cabernet Shiraz style, while carrying the Penfolds assurance of quality.

Fashioned to the timeless and enduring Australian claret styling, proud recipient of the coveted Red Wine of Year Trophy at the prestigious London International. Sourced from the finest Penfold vineyards, Koonunga Hill is known for its fully flavoured palate, solid varietal fruit character and well rounded structure. A firm backbone of Shiraz and gentle oak, in a spicey, fruit driven, early drinking style, its rich sweet palate and savoury finish makes Koonunga Hill the red wine of choice to accompany braised meats in rich tomato mushroom salsa.

Originally released in 1976, the Koonunga Hill range has established a sound reputation for quality and consistency, while availing red wine enthusiasts of the opportunity to approach the enduring Penfolds style. The inaugural 1976 vintage of Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet was a legendary wine, still drinking well at Penfolds red wine recorking clinics. Reissued under the Seventy Six moniker, it has attracted a tremendous amount of critical acclaim, twice recipient of the highly prestigious Wine Press Club Trophy for Best Dry Red Wine.

Penfolds assemble harvests of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from a coterie of elite growers throughout the finer viticultural precincts of South Australia. Koonunga Hill makes moderate use of oak maturation to frame the natural structure and flavour of fruit, whilst retaining the inimitable Penfold styling. A full bodied, generously flavoured wine with a youthful palate that's perfect for early drinking, Koonunga Hill articulates the richness of fruit and firmness of tannins from the assertive Cabernet, as well as the gentle nature and plummy charm of the affable Merlot.

Labelled very plainly as Penfolds Claret, Grange Hermitage 1967 claimed the seventh Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for best one year old red in the land. 1965 Grange had already claimed the same accolade two years previously. Individual bottles of vintage 1967 may be labelled as Bin 74 or Bin 95. Max Schubert describes vintage 1967 as sweet, complex and intense, stocky /truffle like. Developed with ripe, concentrated, meaty chocolate flavours, silky tannin structure and long, well balanced finish.

Grange combines the intensity and stature of peerless quality new world Shiraz, with the complementary influence of completely new, fine American oak. Grange 1965, plainly labelled as Penfolds Claret, claimed the coveted Jimmy Watson Trophy, Australia's highest and most distinguished accolade. Vintage 1965 continued to amass conspicuous wine show awards well into the 1970s. Bottles were marked with Bin numbers 69 and 70, 71 and 95. A very autumnal style of Grange, seasoned with intriguing mushroom notes, cedar and pastoral leaf.

The 1989 Grange Hermitage is beginning to show some seriously attractive older maturation characters, developing sooner by comparison to its more robust 1988 and 1990 counterparts. 91% Shiraz 9% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Kalimna and other Barossa vineyards, as well as the McLaren Vale, it has the typical solid structure and strength of character to produce another classic Grange.

The hallmark of this release is powerful fruit intensity, superb length and typical Grange complexity, showing integrated fruit and oak flavours which are very persistent, reflecting the exceptional quality of the 1988 vintage. An ideal growing season followed by a warm dry vintage, produced an elegant Grange. 94% Shiraz, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon from Kalimna and other vineyards in the Barossa, Padthaway and McLaren Vale. A classic Grange, from an outstanding vintage year, the 1988 will develop superbly until 2008 and beyond.

The unique and distinctive Grange style is based on ripe Shiraz fruit and stylish American oak in fine harmony. The 1985 Grange is predominantly Shiraz with a small amount (1%) Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the Kalimna and other superior vineyards in the Barossa, Clare Valley and Modbury (Adelaide Plains). A cool to mild growing season followed by similarly good conditions at vintage, with late rain delaying picking. An elegantly structured vintage with blackberry black olive plum flavours, and firm savoury tannins.

The 1983 Grange is one of the grandest ever, an exceptional wine and a standout edition from what was otherwise a disastrous vintage across most of Australia's winegrowing regions. Fires, hail, drought and heat, it all happened in 1983. Somehow Penfolds seemed to rise above the adversities of the vintage and produced monumental flagship wines. This Grange stands muscular, powerfully constructed and robust, one of the finest Granges of all time, a great Australian Shiraz with a claim to being one of the finest ever.

Intensely spicy, raspberried, honeyed wine â€“ incredibly fragrant â€“ with cedar and cranberry scents frollicking throughout. These characteristics work better on the nose than they do in the mouth, yet still it's as long and impressive as a freight train. Some will love this wine's fleshy, warm sweetness, others may find it too oddball â€“ but it's in fine balance.

Winemaker John Duval called the 1981 a big, tannic Grange. It is just that, a very powerful, inky, purple-colored wine that is still almost primary and unevolved in its surprising youthfulness. This formidably endowed, broodingly backward, thick, full-bodied, muscular wine has a boatload of chocolate-infused plum, caramel, and cassis flavors. With high tannin, huge grip, and some propensity toward austerity, this is a monster Grange that may not totally assimilate the high levels of tannin, but there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about its future.

A fabulous Grange, powerful, seamlessly constructed wine with perfect levels of glycerin and extract. The wine still seems very youthful, made in a very voluptuous, blockbuster Grange style. It is just now reaching its plateau of drinkability.

Memorable for being the last of all vintages to be bottled in the original buff white foil capsules, the first edition to be made available in magnums, nowadays there are usually six hundred magnums of Grange bottled each year. Winemaker Don Ditter describes 1979 as complex, with plenty of soft, slightly lifted tobacco, berry gamey fruit fragrances. A highly concentrated palate with rich, cedar blackberry fruit, firm and massive, all supported by dry tannins before a long flavourful finish.

The 1960 to 1977 editions of Grange Hermitage were regularly entered into Australian Wine Shows with considerable success. Max Schubert retired as chief winemaker in 1973, but remained involved as mentor and Winemaker Emeritus for another twenty years. Schubert described 1977 Grange as "Complex and vibrant, sweet, meaty truffly fruit with perfumed apricot marmalade and black fruit notes. Concentrated and textured with sweet, briary, apricot, star anise. Fine dry tannins and excellent length. A remarkable wine!"

1975 was the year Max Schubert retired from his post as Chief Winemaker, although he remained a consultant to Penfolds and kept an office at Magill Estate. He was succeeded by Don Ditter, who had worked with Penfolds as a winemaker since 1946. Penfolds 1975 Grange won two Gold and five other medals at Australian wine shows between 1976 and 1981.

Considered a good wine from one of the most difficult vintages in memory for Max Schubert and Don Ditter. Rigorous grape selection saw one of the smallest Grange yields on record at 2300 cases. It was future Chief Winemaker John Duval's first vintage with Penfolds and the first Grange to be made at Nuriootpa in modern steel fermenters. All previous vintages were made in traditional open concrete vessels at the original Magill Estate wineworks. Winner of a Trophy, four Gold and three other medals at Australian wine shows from 1976 to 1989.

Penfolds Grange 1972 won a Gold and four other medals at Australian wine shows in 1973, 1976 and 1977. Originally described by the winemakers as, medium deep brick red in colour, intense liquoric dark chocolate blackberry violet aromas with hints of vanilla spice. A loose knit palate with herbs and camomile, meaty mocha flavours and fine cedary tannins. A single batch was unintentionally oxidized before bottling, resulting in some bottle variation. Otherwise a lovely elegant wine, and a very good Grange vintage

A good portion of Cabernet Sauvignon for this year, weighing in at 13%. 1971 created a sensation when it won gold and topped its class at the Gault-Millau Wine Olympiad in Paris in 1979, beating the best Rhone Valley wines. It also won a trophy, four gold, four silver and five bronze medals at Australian wine shows between 1971 and 1982.

Despite carrying many different Bin numbers in the early years, Grange was always labelled Bin 95 from the 1970 vintage. This wine is a favourite of Don Ditter, who worked at Penfolds from 1946 and succeeded Max Schubert as Chief Winemaker in 1975. The 1970 Penfolds Grange is a blend of 90 per cent Shiraz and 10 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon, from Kalimna, the Barossa and Adelaide's Magill Estate vineyard. Vintage conditions were dry, a growing season with rainfall 40 per cent less than normal.

A wine of extraordinary dimension and power, intensely concentrated and packed with fruit sweetness, Penfolds Grange requires medium to long-term cellaring. With time, it develops into an immensely complex, beguiling wine that seduces the senses. Considered a very successful release from what Max Schubert considered a difficult vintage, 1969 Grange went on to win five Trophies, six Gold, six Silver and two Bronze medals between 1969 and 1975. Bottles from this vintage were labelled with two different Bin numbers 826 and 95.

By the early sixties, Penfolds Grange had secured its future. The experimental work carried out by Max Schubert left lasting impressions. Penfolds work in research and development, working hand in hand with new ideas within the constraints of the knowledge of the time, resulted in an emerging Penfolds house style. This is the first Grange to use grapes from the cool-climate Coonawarra district. The wine won two Gold and three Silver medals in Australian wine shows between 1963 and 1968. Bottles labelled Bin numbers 95 and 395.

Last of the three hidden and secret Granges made by Max Schubert in defiance of a company order to cease production, the wine was released commercially after the ban was lifted. New oak was not used during the three secret vintages. Bottles were labelled Bin numbers 46, 49 and 95. The story of Grange is steeped in the Australian ethos. Max Schubert is an Australian folk hero, a lifelong winemaker who battled against the odds and then succeeded in creating one of the very great wines of the world.

Max Schubert knew intuitively that fruit power, concentration and ripe tannins were key components of optimum quality, he was well ahead of his time. Second of the three hidden, or secret Granges, made by Schubert in defiance of a company order to cease production. The wine was matured in the previous year's Grange barrels as new oak was not available. A blend of 94 per cent Shiraz and 6 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon from the Magill Estate and Morphett Vale at Adelaide, the Kalimna Vineyard and from other vineyards in Barossa and McLaren Vale.

The first of the so called hidden Grange, the wine was made without the knowledge of Penfolds management, who had ordered Max Schubert to cease production, eventually released as Bin 50 and Bin 113. A blend of 88 percent Shiraz and 12 percent Cabernet Sauvignon grown at the Magill Estate and Morphett Vale in the Adelaide Hills, with further components from vineyards in the McLaren Vale. A mild dry growing season, the wine received eighteen months maturation in the previous years Grange barrels.

Penfolds 1956 Grange is extremely rare - a curio and valuable collector's item. Well cellared bottles may show fully developed fruit and lacy tannins but most are past their best. A lighter Grange which spent less time (about nine months) in oak and was bottled early. Bottles labelled Bin numbers 14 and 53. The 1956 included a small amount (4 per cent) of Cabernet Sauvignon. From humble beginnings in the 1950s, Grange has maintained it's place as Australia's most prestigious red wine, and one of history's most unique.

An exceptionally long-lived Grange, a beautifully focused wine, considered one of the best Granges ever produced. The most decorated of all Granges, winning 12 Trophies and 51 Gold medals over 13 years from 1962. A lighter Grange that spent only nine months in oak, the 1955 Grange was a favourite of Max Schubert's, partly because it was the vintage that vindicated him by winning a Gold medal in the open Claret class at the 1962 Sydney Wine Show. Bottles were labelled Bin numbers 13, 14, 53, 54 and 95.

A Heritage-listed wine, the story of Grange is steeped in the Australian ethos. Penfolds 1954 Grange is extremely rare, a curio and valuable collector's item. All but extremely fine bottles are well past their peak. Internal criticism of Grange led Max Schubert to lighten the style slightly and the 1954 had only about nine months in oak. The criticism fired at Max Schubert's early Granges reflected the conservatism prevalent throughout winemaking circles.

260 cases of this wine were produced. This is the first Grange to incorporate wine from the Kalimna region in the Barossa. This was a revelation. An astonishing, great wine with remarkable vigor and freshness, this wine has a dark garnet color with considerable amber at the edge. A sweet nose of mushrooms, roasted herbs, tar, red and black fruits, and underbrush is followed by a wine with considerable opulence, flesh, and vivacity. The wine has terrific harmony and a long finish. It is an amazing effort that should continue to drink well.

A very hedonistic, almost decadent style of Grange, gorgeously opulent, almost Pomerol-like Grange with an over-ripe characteristic to the fruit. Cherry liqueur intermixed with cranberry and cassis presented in a seductive, full-bodied, very soft, forward style is truly not the classic Grange in the sense of having huge structure and massive concentration, but this wine is loaded, very corpulent, and fleshy. The wine is going to last for up to two decades, but it will be uncommonly succulent and delicious to drink young.

Though retired, Grange creator Max Schubert was proclaimed Man of the Year by UK Decanter Magazine in 1988. The hallmark of Grange 1988 is it's powerful fruit intensity, dominant length and profound complexity, persistent fruit and oak, reflecting the exceptional quality of the 1988 vintage.

No other Australian wine can rival the quality and development pattern of Grange. Always exciting and opulent, the pinnacle of Australian reds, 1987 Grange is an elegant edition, beginning juicy and plummy, culminating in a very firm, dry finish. The growing season and vintage were marked by cool weather, crops in most South Australian regions were reduced by hailstorms in October.

Shiraz with a small amount (1%) Cabernet, from the Kalimna and other superior vineyards in the Barossa, Clare Valley and Modbury (Adelaide Plains). A cool to mild growing season followed by similarly good conditions at vintage, with late rain delaying picking. An elegantly structured vintage with blackberry black olive plum flavours, and firm savoury tannins.

Max Schubert's experimental work in the 1950s determined that South Australian Cabernet was unreliable, he recognised that Grange should be based around a spectrum of fruit. One of the great strengths of Grange is, whilst mostly a Shiraz, it does not rely on the performance of a single vineyard. From fruit grown at the Kalimna and other Barossa vineyards, Magill Estate in Adelaide, and other superior vineyards in the Coonawarra, McLaren Vale and Clare Valley, the 1984 is balanced with a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon 5%.

The 1980 Grange is predominantly Shiraz with a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon (4%) from the Kalimna and other Barossa vineyards, the Clare Valley, Magill Estate, McLaren Vale and Coonawarra. A generally good growing season with fine and warm conditions, was followed by a cool vintage.

Penfolds Grange has maintained its place as Australia's most prestigious red wine over four decades. An Australian icon, Grange represents a tradition in winemaking that is totally uncompromising. Grange has bypassed the fads and trends of modern winemaking in the sense that it has maintained an integrity of style and remained true to its origins in the mind of Max Schubert. An unusually wet (but hot) growing season, the 1979 was sourced from the Kalimna and other Barossa vineyards, the Clare Valley, Magill Estate and the McLaren Vale.

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